Comptroller Michael Conners announces he’s battling lymphoma

Just as the battle over the future of the Albany County Nursing Home promises to heat up, one of its most ardent supporters and most colorful local political figures, county Comptroller Michael Conners, announced yesterday that he’s been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Conners disclosed an impressive amount of detail about his diagnosis on his Times Union blog Sunday, but I found one section particularly telling — and a bit sad.

One of the reasons Conners, a Democrat and former county legislator who was first elected comptroller more than 16 years ago, cites for disclosing his condition is so that his opponents — of which, he acknowledges, there are many — cannot use it against him.

Think about that for second. If that’s a legitimate concern, then it’s probably also the most damning indictment of the state of the local political scene that I can imagine.

In his own words:

“Politics is a business, not a game, and you make enemies every time you make a decision. Sometimes the business is a brutal full contact exercise that destroys the practitioners as much as the people they are supposed to serve.

Thank God, I’ve had 16 years and almost 10 months to be the Albany County Comptroller and serve with some of the most dedicated, wonderful, brilliant public servants around. I’ve also had the opportunity to upset, in no particular order, the Bishop, a United States Senator, two (maybe three) governors, NYS Comptrollers (2), a Member of Congress, several Mayors and Supervisors, two County Executives, countless County Legislators, Members of Councils, Trustees and a District Attorney….well you get the idea.

Rather than allow my opportunity to learn about, battle and defeat non Hodgkin’s lymphoma become an opportunity for some to attempt to diminish our Department’s mission and my effectiveness as an elected official, I’m playing 52 pickup (card game) and preempting the rumors by sharing the facts with you now.”

In addition to being at the center of the fight over the nursing home, Conners’ office is also being investigated by County Attorney Thomas Marcelle at County Executive Dan McCoy’s behest. That investigation revolves around the release of the private payroll information of 20 district attorney’s office employees.

“Rumors are Connors is never in his office”
“Connors has lost touch and is stealing the people’s money, he is taking a lot of time off”
“I hear Connors won’t be running again–I hear there is an indictment coming’